Bar interconnection



p 1961 v. E. SPROUSE 3,000,658

BAR INTERCONNECTION Filed Nov. 27, 1959 HNVENTEIR E NE as nuus filvivr Q was,

'A T R N EY Filed Nov. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 355,694 1 Claim. (Cl. 287-103) This invention relates to a simple but most efiective means for interconnecting ends of bars whereby the bars will not have a tendency to pull apart under stress, and at the same time may not move laterally one in respect to the other at the interconnection.

The interconnection is particularly usable where the two bars to be connected may at times be quickly disconnected, and then on occasion returned to their connected conditions. The invention also has the further advantage that no tools whatsoever are required to make the connection or to release the connection, the structure being operable simply by lifting an overlapping clip, and sliding one bar laterally from the other, and upon interconnection again, the reverse procedure is had.

A further advantage of the invention resides in the fact that a stiff interconnection is had, so that there is no tendency for one bar to be angularly disposed in relation to the other under normal conditions.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those versed in the art in the following description of one particular form, which description is made in reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a view of a pair of bar ends in disconnected relation;

FIG. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the bars interconnected positions with the retaining clip in raised position; and

FIG. 3 is a detail on an enlarged scale in vertical transverse section through a bar and the clip in lowered position.

One bar is provided with a T-slot 11 entering through the end 12. The second bar 13 is provided with a T-head 14 at its end, the T-head 14 being shaped to conform closely to the contours of the T-slot 11 so that the end 12 may butt against the end 15 of the bar 13. These two bars are brought one up to the other to have the T-head 14 extend along the side of the slot 11, whereupon the bars are moved one relative to the other to bring the T-head 14 within the slot 11, to have opposite faces of the two bars 10 and 13 come into the same planes.

On one of the bars, herein shown as the bar 10, a U- shaped clip 16 is preferably rockably attached at a distance along the bar 10 spaced from the slot 11.

The clip 16 is shaped to have side wings 17 and 18 spaced one from the other in parallel alignment or possibly with the wings 17 and 18 being inclined slightly one to ward the other so that they may be sprung apart when the clip is employed as follows. The clip, being hinged to the bar 10, is rocked downwardly from some such position as indicated in FIG. 2, to have the wings 17 and 18 frictionally slide down over the opposite sides of the bars 10 and 13, to be in intimate contact therewith until the web 19 comes down and strikes the upper edges 20 and 21 ot the bars 10 and 13 respectively, as il st in Patented Sept. 19, 1961 2 FIG. 3. The lower edges of the wings 17 and 1t? are preferably flared outwardly one from the other as indicated by the numerals 22 and 23. This permits easy rocking of the clip 16 downwardly over the edges 20 and 21 so as to bring the bars 10 and 13 into longitudinal alignment one with the other.

The clip 16 is also provided with a pair of fingers 24 and 2S normally extending inwardly one toward the other as indicated in FIG. 3. The lower ends of these fingers 24 and 25 have outturned lips 26 and 27 so that when those lips 26 and 27 engage over the top edge 21 of the bar 13, and the clip 16 is pushed downwardly, the fingers 24 and 25 will elastically spread apart to permit the clip to pass on down over the bar 13, and these fingers 24 and 25 are so located and designed that they may spring back under the lower edge of the bar 13, FIG. 3, so that the clip 16 is thus yieldingly retained in its position of extension by its wings 17 and 18 along the bars 10 and 13.

Thus, the wings 17 and 18 prevent one bar 10 from extending laterally angularly from the other bar 13, and thereby both bars 10 and 13 are maintained in straight longitudinal alignment. Not only do the members 22 and 23 aid in closing the clip 16 down over the bars 10 and 13, but they also serve as means for the operator engaging'the clip 16 to lift it from the overlapping condition.

Therefore while I have described my invention in the one particular form, it is obvious that structural changes may be employed without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited to that precise form beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the following claim.

I claim:

A connection between opposing ends of two bars; one bar having a T slot entering an end and opening from both sides and the bar end; a second bar; a T head on the second bar; said head laterally entering said slot from either side and snugly fitting therein, the two bars extending in straight line directions oppositely from said head and slot engagement; a U shaped clip pivotally secured to one of said bars adjacent the connection to swing over both of said bar ends; said clip having a web from which extend two wings, one normally slightly toward the other, and each wing having a finger extending trorn its lower edge one toward the other and thence outwardly; and said fingers first camming apart said wings in traversing said bar ends as the clip is rocked over said connection, said fingers being located along said wings to pass over said second bar; and said fingers springing under bars yieldingly resisting reverse rocking of the clip, thereby preventing lateral displacement of one bar from the other at said connection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 348,944 Allen Sept. 14, 1886 922,263 Cole May 18, 1909 1,170,429 Dunlap Feb. 1, 1916 2,543,933 Pomrnier Mar. 6, 1951 2,704,963 Parachek Mar. 29, 1955 2,718,406 Sawyer et a1. Sept. 20, 1955. 

